Vaidava Civil Parish

The biggest white sandstone detrition in Baltics - 15 metres high, 400 metres wide. Picnic places. Guided excursions.
Tel. 29433353
www.gnp.gov.lv
One of the most picturesque rocks in Latvia. It has given the name to the nearest house. The rock is very varied, it is not only a sandstone wall, but an emerging arch, a cave with 2 exits, recesses, cracks and narrow ledges.
The rock is devided into 2 different parts. The first part - an almost vertical 13 m high 200 m long slightly curving precipe, where yellowish white sandstones can be seen from water level up to 6 m high.
The second part is more to the South. There sandstone detritions are further away from the river. The lower part of the precipe is covered by bushes and trees and can`t be seen from the river. In some places the height of the cliff reaches up to 15 metres. Although it`s forbidden to climb the rocks some tourists ignore the ban and damage the cracks in the rocks. There are tourist paths to walk along the rocks. There used to be the biggest natural arch in Latvia. Next to it, there is a cave with both ends open and a 15 metres high sandstone pillar. A Devil`s heel is also worth mentioning. It is a sandstone formation with cracks on both sides and with a platform at its end. Gradually it can become a sandstone pillar. Further to the South, there is a ravine which ends with a big, vertical triangle shaped crack. There are two big recesses in Sietiniezis - intersting funnels, the biggest is 7 metres deep, the diametre is 8 metres.
150 metres further is a small ochre deposit, formed by springs.
The natural arch of Sietiniezis collapsed in the summer of 1975. 4 metres wide vault was the most noteworthy formation in Sietiniezis. It was much bigger than the arches in Liepas Ellite. The arch was formed in a narrow sandstone edge, paralelly to the river. The height of the arch from the basis of the slope was 7 metres . There was a passage through it - 5 metres high and 8 metres wide, the vault was 4 metres wide and the thickness - 2 metres. There was a tourist path accross the top of the arch. The arch grew bigger when sandstone slided from the bottom of the vault and the process was speeded up by the tourists' habit to engrave inscriptions. At present there is a big gap in sandstone edge in the place of the arch. Near it, a new arch is shaping.
Sietiniezis devil`s cave is in the North of the Southern part of Sietiniezis, it is 10.5 metres long at cave-in. Its uniqueness is both open ends where a new arch is formed not far from former Sietiniezis arch place.
Stabs next to cave-in and cave reminds a huge 15 metres high ‘' sugar-beet". It is vertical, holding to the cliff with one side. There are two recesses in the Southern part.

Vaidava parish, on the right side of the Vaidava lake, on the right side of the road, 340 m from ‘' Pilskalni" in Koceni parish. A cultural monument of state importance. It`s in the reservation territory of the Gauja National park. The fortified castle mound is in Brinki pine forest, on the 22 metres steep coast of Vaidava lake, 1.3 km to the South of Rubene church and 0.34 km to the South of ‘'Pilskalni". Fortifications were made taking into account its advantageous position. The castle hill is located between two side-ravines of the lake. From the East and partly from the South the ravines were connected with three paralel dykes and ditches. The deepest of the ditches together with a dyke forms a 3 -4 metres high obstacle. It`s possible to get to the castle mound from the Eastern side where the fortification system is crossed by a road. The length of the Southern side of the plateau is 45 metres, Eastern - 50 metres, Northern - 60 metres, Western - 65 metres. In the North West corner there is about 10 metres wide and 2 metres deep cavity.
The castle mound was mentioned in records for the first time in the 70ies of the 19th century, when a hypothesis by K.G.Ziverss was put forward that there was a famous ancient Beverina castle. V.D. Balodis, F.Balodis, E. Brastins and others believed that there was Metimne castle, mentioned in the chronicles by Henry of Livonia. F. Brastins mentions that old people called this place Mitenine and Mikenine.
Not far from the entrance to Vaidava castle hill there is a hollow stone on the field among 30 other stones. The stone field is abot 200 square metres big on a flat terrain rise. Most of the stones seem not moved. The average size of the stones is 0.8 - 1.2 m.
The following story published by E.Brastins and written down by K.Bukums marks the importance of the castle mound. In ancient times there was a plan to build Cesis in this place, but the devil who dwelled there required from the builders to pay for his retreat, otherwise he would destroy the town. The builders didn`t give the money to the devil. So, at night he destroyed what was built during the day and Cesis was built in a different place. Possibly, this story proves that there was a devil`s dwelling place - an ancient ritual site somewhere nearby Vaidava castle mound or on the castle mound, and so, construction of fortifications didn`t succeed. This view could be supported by a hollow stone in Brinki pine forest 170 metres to the East, South East from the castle mound. There is also a spring at Vaidava castle hill. It`s possible that the spring has some connection with the Devil`s cave in the ravine opposite the spring where now there is a detrition of white sandstone. According to K. Bukums, the Devils` cave collapsed at the beginning of the 20th century. It`s the territory of the Gauja National Park.

Vaidava parish, 750 metres to the South from Rubene, on the left side of Valmiera - Riga highway, between the road to Vaidava and Vaidava lake. The estate is in the territory of the Gauja National Park. It is an architectural monument of state importance.
At the end of the 15th century Vaidava estate was sold by Hanss and Ditrich, the sons of Oto Rozens,(1488) to Evolds Patkuls, the owner of Jaunkalpe and Kiegeli. He joined this land property with Podzeni, his previous property. At the beginning of the 17th century (1626) Fridrich Vilhelm Patkul is mentioned as the owner. Later the estate was inhereted by Johan Reinhold Patkuls (1660 - 1707), the most famous person of the family, the captain of the Swedish army, the lieutenant ganeral of the Russian army, an active member of Russian - Polish coalition.
After the Northern war the estate was passed to the widow of Johan Reinhold Patkul's brother Gustav. Magnuss Johan fon Bok purchased Vaidava together with the land of Velki estate, Zvirgzdi pub and mill. In the summer of 1783 the estate was sold to town councillor Eberhard Vevel fon Kriger for 20 000 Albert`s thalers. Some years later (1789) the property was purchased by assessor Fridrich Ludvig fon Albedil for a bigger sum of money (30 000 Albert`s thalers). When his son Francis Magnus fon Albedil inhereted the property (in 1803) its value was already 38 000 Albert`s thalers. Everything was not so smooth and in 1815 he mortgaged the property to Karl Shuman for 35 000 silver roubles. The estate was remortgaged again for 40 000 silver roubles for 10 years (1826). In the following years the estate had different owners.
The last owners - fon Fegezaki (from 1890) used the property only as a summer residence.The building had suffered neither during wars nor it was burned down in revolutions, but the time has proved a stronger enemy, and now many buildings are almost in ruins. It`s possible to see the manor house ( an architectural monument of state importance, the first half of the 19th century) and the granary (the beginning of the 19th century) . It`s an impressive building with a steep roof , an attick and an archade consisting of seven arches.

Vaidava parish, on the left coast of the Vaidava lake, in the coast ravine, 300 metres to the South East from Vaidava manor. It is in the protected area of the Gauja National park.
The cave is in the sandstone detrition. Its size is 8 x 5 metres. There is a boulder jammed in the crack near the entrance.

Vaidava parish, Skolas iela -5, the territory of the Gauja National park.
The first known owner was Didrich Felkerzam, and later his sons Kaspars and Janis. Kaspars was killed by peasants in 1677. Janis sought refuge in Estonia. He requested the Polish government to give back his estate to him, but unsuccessfully. It became the property of Cesis escopacy chapter of priests and in 1613 was given back to a Polish Catholic priest. In 1624 the Swedish government assigned it to the state chancellor count Oxenschern, and only in 1634 Janis Felkerzamen`s sons Veinhold and Kristaps got back their father`s property. Kristaps is the owner of the property and in 1683 the reduction commission confirms this property to his son Vilhelm. Then the estate is inhereted by his son, a district comissar Fred Felkerzamen. In 1727 he sells the property to customs director Reitern, but the town councillor D. Cimmerman buys it from him. After Cimmerman`s death the estate is inhereted by his son D.Cimmermanis, and after his death Velki estate together with Podzeni and Vaidava becomes the property of his sister Marta fon Albedila. In 1751 the estate is sold to captain Vellemsen. In 1781 the owner of the estate is Captain Glazen, and then the Albedils are the owners of the estate again. The owners change several times. Up to 1942 the estate is governed by Voldemars Jirgens. In 1950, Vaidava seven-year school starts its work in the manor house and since 1965 there is a boarding school for children with special needs.

Vaidava parish, about 1.2 km to the East, South East from Zaki pub, in the forest of former Ogeni house.
The impressive piles and rows of stones (about 5 hectars) in Ogeni forest were discovered between 80ies and 90ies of the 20th century when a group of nature-friendly people investigated different stone formations in the forests of Latvia. Rows and piles of stones are in different sizes: from one about 20 cm big stone up to 2 metres wide piles of stones in the width, from the ground level up to 0.5 -0.7 m in the height. The length of piles and rows - from 20 cm to some hundred metres. In some places piles and rows are supplemented with separate boulders and their groups. There is also a half-finished grinding stone and a cross stone (the 17th century) on the crossing of two forest paths.

Vaidava parish, 11 km to the South from Koceni, 7 km to the East from Vaidava, 100 metres to the West from the motorway Valmiera - Sietiniezis, at Antoni. It is in the territory of the Gauja National Park. The stone has a shape of a tent and a peculiar surface. Its size is 5.6 x 5.0 x 2.1 metres. About 50% of it is on the surface of the ground. The stone was brought by the glacier to Latvia during the last ice age (25 -12 000 years ago) from the territory of Fenoskandia. Stories classify the stone as a Devil`s work and rank it among other ''stones with a footprint".
Gints Skutans has recorded a story about Antoni stone. The devil wanted to fill the Gauja with the stones, but a rooster started singing in Sietini house, so the devil threw the stone down at Antoni house and ran away leaving his footprint in the stone. In 1929 ''Valmiera Newspaper'' writes about Antoni stone: ''There is an unusually big stone at Antoni house. People say that there are two barrels of gold burried under it and the devil is guarding them. Farmer Antons had left building materials at the stone, and at night his servant had a dream that the devil wanted to know what they were going to build. The servant had answered that they were going to build a church. The devil didn't like this answer and he promised some gold if they didn't build the church. The servant wanted more money than was promised, so the devil ran away and didn`t come back. The story says that some years ago a pot of gold was found indeed".

Vaidava parish, 1.7 km from Valmiera - Straupe - Riga highway and Rubene - Brinki -Vaidava crossing, 220 metres to the West from Rubene - Brinki - Vaidava road, 40 metres from the coast of Vaidava lake. It is in the protected zone of the Gauja National Park.
It is located in the upper part of an impressive ravine, 40 metres from the place where the spring flows into the lake. The spring comes out from the ground not far from Brinki house. There has been a cave at the spring. Stories say about the healing qualities of the spring.

Stories say that many years ago there was a meadow. One autumn afternoon when cattle were grazing there a black cloud appeared in the air and settled in the meadow. The shepherdess only managed to say: Vai! Vai! (ouch!)... and was covered by the water. So the lake was called Vaidava.

Vaidava parish, on the left coast of Strikupe, 550 metres to the South, South East from Ligotaji and 570 metres to the West, South West from Stoki. A state importance cultural monument. It is located in nature protection zone of the Gauja National Park.
1.A Health Spring
It flows out of the biggest recess of Stoki cliff . For a long time it has been known for its healing qualities. In the 70ies of the 20th century local inhabitants Janis and Modris Opmani wrote to State culture monuments protection inspection: Some metres up along the coast there is the so called Health spring. It flows out of a cave, several metres deep and similar to a recess. Even in summer, its water is ice cold and very tasty. People say that it`s very good for the eyes so people take it home as well.
According to an ancient belief, if you take water from a spring you have to donate something to it, and usually people leave some money there. Old people say: if you take some money out of the spring you will fall ill with the disease of the person who threw the money into the water. It`s not so easy to find the coins, because there is flowing sand where they disappear.
2.Vaidava, Stoki, Patkul`s Cave.
There are three connected caves in the Southern part of detrition and the biggest of them is Patkul`s cave. Many tourist guides say that at the end of the 17th century it was the hiding place of the landloard J.R. Patkuls (1660 - 1707), however, some believe that this version appeared only in the second half of the 20th century, and this view is supported by the following letter: ‘' We are writing to you for the first time. In the newspaper ‘'Lauku Dzive" (no.10) this year (1993) we read an article by Guntis Enins ''The longest cave in Latvia". Among other caves, the author mentions the so called Patkul`s cave and a coat of arms which was carved on its wall. We would like to offer some detailed information. Local inhabitants call this cave Vaidava cave or Stoki cave, but the story that baron Patkuls was hiding there originated only recently. Earlier, the entrance of the cave was so small that only a dog or a badger could creep in. In about 1933 my father together with his brothers dug out the entrance and partly cleaned the cave. There, on the wall, under about 1.5 metres thick layer of sand and moss they found a carved coat of arms. My father had said that he had seen a similar coat of arms in Rubene church on a siver cup, which had been presented to the church by Patkuls." These are the origins of this story.

TOURS

Tours include activities and involvement. A presentation and videos about chairmakers in Vaidava. A NOVELTY! An exhibition hall where the vistors can see art works by local artists. Special offers to newly married.
Tel.: 29481519

Tour inside the pottery (10 Ls for group). Ceramics and pottery products for sale.
Tel.: 64284101

Ancient working tools. Finding out all about their use (1 hour - 0.3/0.5 Ls for person). A guest house, tent and picnic places.
Tel.: 26323724

The tour includes active involvement of visitors: find out about growing herbs, their preparation and usage .Tasting of teas. Teas and herb pillows for sale. A picnic place.
Tel.: 29432176

Finding out all about the bees. Bee observation in the hive. A film about bee life and the secrets of getting honey. Tasting of honey, wax candle making (2 hours, 1.5/2 Ls for a person)
Picnic places.
Tel.: 28341533
valdamedus@inbox.lv

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